Control device



July l1, 1944.

R. M. HElNTz Erm..

`CONTROL DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1942 GJMl Mam@ N INVENToRs. )Paz/w M. Him/rz.

` Ua/mhd A TTOEWEX Patented July 11, 1944 CONTROL DEVICE i r.

Ralph M. Hentl,

Erieside, Ohio, assignors to Jack h Cleveland, Ohio cleveland, 'ma am d. cubos,

Heinta, Inc.,

Application January 27, 1942, Serial No. 428,420.

9 Claims.

This invention relates in general to control devices and has as its primary object to provide an improved device for predetermining and automatically controlling the rate and direction of operation of the device and consequently the direction and rate of turn of an airplane controlled by an automatic pilot. 'I

For ilying an airplane by means of an automatic pilot and in connection with a directional gyro it is proposed to provide a double solenoid motor for energizing the rudder control means and a vmanual switch for selectivelyv operating the left or right solenoid for an operation of the airplane rudder inthe left or right direction for such turns as are desired. Thus, as long as the switch is manually maintained closed in either direction the turn oi the airplane in the desired direction continues by means of the operation oi the rudder. In addition to this regulation of rudder control of the airplane, it is proposed to automatically regulate the rate of turn in accordance with a manual setting of a timing apparatus in circuit with the solenoid motor. In this manner the turn continues at a predetermined rate as long as the solenoid switch is closed by the operator for eilecting a turn in either divrection.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combination of vparts and details of construction hereinafter' set forth in the following specication and appended claims, certain embodiments thereof being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an illustrative view inelevation o! the solenoid motor| the circuit diagram and the timing mechanism, with the ratchet wheels being partly broken away to show their relationship to Aeach other and their pawls and detent;

Figure 2 is a view of the casing taken at right angles vFigure 1: and

FigureBisa-viewtakenonthe line 2 1 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the solenoid motor may comprise two solenoids and 2 with armatures I and I, respectively, protruding at their upper extremities and which are to that shown in magnetic members 24 and I1 are fixed to a rockingframel positionedonthestubshait 6 which is iournailed ateone. end in the upwardly extending arm of the supporting bracket 5. The other end of the -shaft B is iournalledtin the bracket plate I' thereby supporting the rocking frame and the paw'ls I and 0 pivoted at opposite ends with a contact l2 the armature I attracts the to the rocker frame. Pawl I is pivoted at Iii to the upright portion il o! the frame 1 which has secured thereto the magnetic member 24 to engage armature I, when the solenoid l is electrically energ against the action of a tension spring il secured to the tie bar l! and to anV extension of the rocker frame 1. Pawl- I is pivoted at Il to the rocker frame 1 and carries a magnetic member i1 adapted to engage the armature 4 oi the solenoid 2, when the latter is energized, against the action of a tension spring `i2 secured to the spacer bar i2 and to an exu 'tension I4 of the rocker frame 1.

Also mounted in the housing on a rotatable stub shaft 2i. in'parallel relation to shaft 6 and in suitable bail bearing assemblies 22 and 23 are three ratchet wheels 24, 25 and 26 which are keyed at Il to the shaft 2i so as to be rotated `iointly in either direction by action of rocker frame and pawls 8 and 9.' The center wheel 26 is provided with teeth that are uniformly inclined in either direction to receive a detent 21 carried by a leaf spring 2l secured to the motor bracket at 29. i

Thus whenthe solenoid i is energized by the throwing of a suitable switch Ill into engagement IB and against the stop 21. The pawl l may assolenoid motor and secured at-their bases to the bracket 5. Two

sume angular positions during advancing engagement; these angular positions are resiliently compensated by the spring I6. The pawl l thus being in engagement with ratchet wheel 24 moves the latter one notch or more in a clockwise di-- rection. The spring detent 21, engages the corresponding next tooth ot detent wheel 25 to hold the latter and the wheel assembly and consequently the shalt 2i in this advanced positio until a repeated action occurs.

Likewise when switch Il is thrown to engage contact ll to energize solenoid 2 the armature 4 attracts the magnetic member I1 to move rocker frame 1 about its pivot t in a counterclockwise direction against the action oi a tension spring I2 secured to the spacer bar Il and to an extension i4 of the rocker frame 1. As a result oi this rocking :of the frame 1, the pawl I, which 'is normally out ot engagement with ratchet wheel 2l and at against its stop, is brought into engagement with the clockwise inclined teeth of the ratchet. When the pawl 9 is in engagement with the teeth of wheel 24 the latter iS then advanced one notch or more in a counterclockwise direction together with the wheel 25 ahd with respect' to the detent 21, 28. Consequentlyv and at a predetermined rate. In order to accomplish this there is provided a clock mecha` nism generally illustrated at 40 which is electrically included in circuit with switch 30 and a suitable electrical source 4I and ground 42. The clock, or timing dfvice, may have a spring operated mechanism therein, or any desired prime mover, and may be adjusted as desired by a hand knob 43 for speed control of movementoi an arm 46 carried on a shaft 41 driven by the timing device. The timing device is further provided with a plurality, such as fifty more or less, of spaced contacts 44 of uniform dimensions with equally spaced gaps 45 therebetween. Thus when the arm 46 is in engagement with one of the contacts 44 and switch 30 is engaging contact 3l the circuit is complete and solenoid 2 is energized. As previously explained, this causes a movement of the wheel assembly and the shaft 2l the distance of one notch or more counterclockwise. As soon as brush 48 is driven out of engagement with one of the contacts 44 o ver the adjacent gap 45 the solenoid immediately becomes deenergized and the pawl 8 is released from its engagement with ratchet wheel 24 and assumes the normal neutral position shown in Figure 1 with the detent 2l, 28 engaging wheel 25 to hold the assembly in the advanced position. Further movement of brush 46 brings it into engagement with-another one of the contacts 44 fwhich automatically closes the circuit to bring about a reenergization of the same solenoid 2 andthe cycle of engagement of pawl 9 with ratchet wheel 24 to advance the latter and shaft 2l in a counterclockwise direction is repeated; and intermittently thus re- Deated as long as switch l0 is maintained in contact with contact 3i. It follows, in the light of the foregoing description, that upon the throwing f switch 30 into engagement 32 the alternate automatic engagement and disengagement of brush 46 with contacts 44 of the timing device similarly energizes solenoid l to rock the lever 1 clockwise and then deenergize the solenoid permitting spring I8 to return it to normal and causing the pawl l to intermittently advance the wheel 26 and shaft 2| in a. clockwise/ direction. Shaftl 2| has nxed thereon a bevel gear 48 to mesh with a similar gear 40 mounted on a shaft 50 which may extend to actuate the mechanism of a conventional directional gyro box for an automatic pilot.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has bren provided a simple and convenient expedient whereby in an automatic pilot the desired rate of turn in either direction may be selected, predetermined and set and automatically maintained in eitherdirection upon the operation of a simple switch means.

We claim:

1. In combination with an-aircraft and an automatic pilot therefor employing a directional gyro assembly and a device for rudder control and turn of the aircraft, a prime mover for said assembly including a rotatable shaft, means for controlling the speed of rotation of said shaft in either direction, said means comprising a pair of independently and selectively electrically energizable devices for advancing said shaft in step by step rotation in either selected direction, an adjustable timing device for automatically and alternately energizing and deenergizing the selected one of said electrical devices, and switch means between said .timing device and said electrical source of power, whereby said shaft is automatically rotated at a constant speed predeterminedly selected' and set up in said timing device and continuously rotated in the desired direction predeterminedly selected and set up in said switch means until said switch means is thrown to a neutral or opposite control position.

2. In combination with an aircraft and an automatic pilot therefor employing a directional gyro assembly and a device for rudder control and turn of the aircraft, a prime mover for said assembly including a rotatable shaft, means for controlling the speed of rotation of said shaft in either direction, said means comprising a source of electric power, a pair of independent solenoids.

and switch means for selectively energizing one or the other, pawl and ratchet means operable by each of saidV solenoids for rotating said shaft in opposite directions in step by step movement according to which solenoid is selectively energized and a timing device that is adjustable as to speed of rotation and incircuit with said switch and adapted, upon operation of the latterv to selectively energize one or the other solenoid, whereby said shaft is automatically rotated at a constant speed predeterminedly selected and set up in said timing device and continuously rotated in the desired direction predeterminedly selected and set up in said switch means until said switch means is thrown to a neutral or opposite control position.

3. In combination with an aircraft and imv automatic pilot therefor employing a directional gyro assembly and a device for rudder control and turn of the aircraft, a prime mover for said assembly including s. rotatable shaft, means for controlling the speed of rotation of said shaft in either direction, said means comprising a source of electric power, a pair of independent solenoids and switch means for selectively energizing one or the other, pawl and ratchet means operable by each of said solenoids for rotating said shaft in opposite directions in step by step movement according to which solenoid is selectively energized and a timing device that is adjustable as to speed of rotation and in circuit with said switch and adapted, upon operation of the latter to selectively energize one or the other solenoid, whereby said shaft is automatically rotated at a constant speed predeterminedly selected and set up in said timing device and continuously rotated in the desired direction-predeterminedly selected and set up in said switch means until said switch means is thrown to a neutral or opposite control position.

4. In combination with an aircraft and an automatic pilot therefor employing a. directional gyro assembly and a device for rudder control and turn of the aircraft, a prime mover for said assembly including a rotatable shaft, means for controlling the speed of rotation of said shaft in either direction, said means comprising a source of electric power, a pair of independent solenoids and switch means for selectively energizing one or the other, pawi and ratchet means operable to selectively energize one or the other solenoid, (said timing device including a plurality of spaced contacts separated by gapsland a brush driven vby the clockwork of said timing device whereby said brush when in contact with one of said con'- tacts completes the circuit from said source to said switch and to the selected solenoid to energize the latter and cause the deenergization of the latter when in alignment with one of said gaps and out of engagement with any of said contacts, whereby said shaftv is automatically rotated at a constant speed predeterminedly selected and set up in said timing device and continuously rotated in the desired direction predeterminedly selected and set up in said switch means until said switch means is thrown to a neutral or opposite control position.

automatic pilot therefor employing a directional gyro assembly and a device for rudder control and turn of the aircraft, a prime mover for said assembly including a rotatable shaft, means for controlling the speed of rotation of said shaft in either direction, said means comprising a source of electric power, a pair of independent solenoids and switch 4means for selectively energizing one or the other, pawl and ratchet means operable by each of said ysolenoids for rotating said shaft in opposite directions in step by step movement according to which solenoid is selectively energized and a timing device th'at is adjustable as to speed of rotation and in circuit with said switch and adapted, upon operation .of the latter to selectively energize one or the other solenoid, said timing device includingsa plurality of spaced contacts separated by gaps anda brush driven by said timing device whereby said brush when in contact with one of said contacts completes the circuit from said source to said switch and to the selected solenoid to energize e latter and cause the deenergization of the l tter when in alignment with one of said gaps and out of engagement with any of said contacts and a spring operated detent for, maintaining said shaft in, .each advanced rotative position, whereby said shaft is automatically rotated at a constant speed predeterminedly selected and set up in said timing device and continuously rotated in the desired direction predeterminedly selected and set up in said switch means until said switch means is thrown to a neutral or opposite control position.

6. Means for controlling the speed of rotation of a shaft in either direction, said means comprising a source of electric power, a pair'of independent solenoids and switch means for selectively energizing one or the other,l pawl .and ratchet means operable by each of said solenoids for rotating said shaft in opposite directions in step by step movement according to which solenoid is selectively energized and a timing device that is adjustable as to speed of rotation and in circuit with said switch and adapted, upon operation of the latter to selectively energize one .or the other solenoid, to automatically control the corresponding ratchet wheel.

speed of rotation of said shaft in the corresponding selected direction of rotation, said pawl and ratchet means comprising three ratchet wheels keyed to rotaie with said shaft. the middle wheel having uniformly inclined peripheral teeth to receive a spring detent and the outer two wheels having oppcsitely and downwardly inclined peripheral teeth to be separately and independently engaged with and disengaged from its corresponding adjacent pawl, said pawls being carried by a rocker arm adjacent either end thereof and resiliently urged inwardly against a stop but normally out of engagement with either ratchet wheel, spring means for normally maintaining said rocker arm in neutral level position, contacts carried by said rocker varm and adapted to be attracted by either solenoid when the latter is energized so as to rock said rocker arm and force the pawl on the opposite end of said rocker arm upwardly into operative engagement with its 'corresponding ratchet wheel.

'1. Means for controlling the speed of rotation of a shaft in either direction, said means comprising a source of electric power, a pair of independent solenoids and switch means for selectively energizing one or the other, pawl and ratchet means operable by each of said solenoids for rotating said shaft in opposite directions in step by step movement according to which solenoid is selectively energized and a timing device that is adjustable as to speed of rotation and in circuit with said switch and adapted, upon'rotation of the latter to selectively energize one or the other solenoid, to automatically control the speed of rotation of said shaft in the corresponding selected direction of rotation and a spring operated detent for maintaining said shaft in each \advanced rotative position, said pawl and ratchet means comprising three ratchet wheels keyed to rotate with said shaft, the middle wheel having uniformly inclinedperipheral teeth to receive a spring detent and the outerv two wheels said rocker arm in neutral level position, con.

tacts carried by said rocker arm and adapted to be attracted by either solenoid when the latter is energized so as to rock said rocker arm and force the pawl on the opposite end of vsaid rocker arm upwardly into operative engagement with its 8. In combination with an aircraft and .an automatic pilot therefor employing a directional gyro assembly and a device for rudder control and turn of the aircraft. a prime mover for 'said assembly including a rotatable shaft, means for controlling the speed' of rotation of said shaft in either'direction, said means comprising a source of electric power, a pair of independent solenoids and switch means for selectively energizing one or the other, pawl and ratchet means operable by each of said solenoids for rotating said` shaft in opposite,directlons in step by step movement according to which solenoid isF selectively energize'd and a timing device that is adjustable as to speed of rotation and in circuit with said switch and adapted, upon operation of the latter to selectively energize one or the other solenoid,

a spring operated detent for maintaining said shaft in each advanced rotative position, said pawl and ratchet means comprising three ratchet wheels keyed to rotate with said shaft, the middle wheel having uniformly inclined peripheral teeth to receive a spring detent and the outer two wheels having oppositely and downwardly inclined peripheral teeth to be separately and independently engaged with and disengaged from its corresponding adjacent pawl, whereby said shaft is automatically rotated at a constant speed predeterminedly selected and set up in said timing device andcontinuously rotated in the desired direction predeterminedly selected and set up in said switch means until said switch means is thrown to a neutral or opposite control position.

9. In combination with an aircraft and an automatic pilot therefor employing a directional gyro assembly and a device for rudder control and lturn of the aircraft, a prime mover for said tacts completes the circuit from said sourceto l said switch and to the selected solenoid to enerassembly including a rotatable shaft, means for controlling the speed of rotation of said shaft in either direction, said means comprising a source of electric power, a pair of independent solenoids and switch means for selectively energizing'one or the other, pawl and ratchet means operable by each of said solenoids for rotating said shaft in opposite directions in step by step movement according to which solenoid is selectively energized and a timingdevice that is adjustable as to speed of rotation and in circuit with said switch and adapted, upon operation of the latter to selectively energize one or the other solenoid, to automatically control the speed of rotation of gize the latter and cause the deenergization of the latter when in alignment with one of gaps and out of engagement with any of sai contacts and a spring operated detent for main taining said shaft in each advanced rotative position, saidpawl and ratchet means comprising three ratchet wheels keyed to rotate with said shaft, the middle wheel having uniformly inclined peripheral teeth to receive a spring detent and the outer two wheels having oppsitely and downwardly inclined peripheral teeth to be separately and independently engaged with and disengaged from its corresponding adjacent pawl, said pawls being carried by a rocker arm adjacent either end thereof and resiliently urged inwardly against a stop but normally out of engagement with either ratchet wheel, spring means for normally maintaining said rocker arm in neutral level position. contacts carried by said rocker arm and-adapted to be attracted by either solenoid when the latter is energized so as to rock said rocker arm and force the pawl on the opposite end of said rocker arm upwardly into operative -engagement with its corresponding ratchet wheel.

RALPH M. HEINTZ. BERT G. CARLSON. 

